Sheet feeding mechanism



April 2l, 1953 R. J. THOMPSON 2,635,695

SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed June 9, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheetv l F RoaERTlTHoMPaoN April 2l, 1953 R. J. THOMPSON SHEET FEEDING MEcHANrsM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1947 -m Imah a 'willi lil |.I.

April 2-1, 1953 R. J. THOMPSON SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 9, 1947 April 21, 1953 R. J. THOMPSON SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 9, 1947 April 2l, 1953 R. J. THOMPSON SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Filed June 9. 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 F1 E EJ- fas z u N :sa o .mw 2 a., P w i u www. .Kf M W ",rlwH [P 4T.. WM l J M m o T n f a /f o 2 W- un l 2.., 2 9 A ./5 8 .r w x Il 5l 2 f w d J2 m /f 4 6 y n i 5 m M W 7 l 4 w j i 7 @M H l e 6 LL/ .I

Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED PATENT OFFICE Sli-EET FEEDING MECHANISM Robert 5. Thompson, Harrisburg, Pa., assigner to The 0. Hickok Mfg. Cc., Harrisburg, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application .l une 9, 1947, Serial N o. 753,483

Claims. 1

This invention relates to a sheet feeding mechanism, and more particularly to a mechanism for feeding paper sheets to a perforator.

There is in common use a rotary paper perforator having parallel shafts one of which carries discs having projecting perforator pins or lingers and the other of which carries a disc having openings to receive the perfo; ating pins, the paper or other sheets to be perforated being fed between such sets of discs. ln the use ci such apparatus, it is the common practice to feed the sheets manually in groups of two or more, The reason for this is that the perforator will more cleanly punch holes in a plurality of sheets than in a single sheet, the number of sheets fed to the apparatus depending upon the nature and thickness of the individual sheets.

The reason for the manual feeding of sheets to perforators of the type referred to lies n the fact that sheets are commonly fed to thV machine in groups of two or more instead of singly, and so far as l am aware, no practical machine has ever been developed for automatically collecting a predetermined number of superposed, registered sheets and then feeding them to the perforator. Accordingly operators gather and register a number of sheets and feed them by hand through the apparatus, and the perforations are thus cut much more cleanly than can be done with a conventional sheet feeder wherein single sheets are fed to the perforator. fit the same time, the manual feeding cf an apparatus of this character is obviously iar more costly than would be true with the use of a mechanical device for gathering and feeding the sheets in predetermined numbers to the perforatcr.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which is automatically operative for gathering and registering a predetermined number of sheets of material and then feeding them forwardly to a perforatcr or other apparatus adapted to perform operations on such a plurality of sheets.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the charac er referred to which is fully automatic for collecting successive single sheets fed thereto, arresting the sheets until a predetermined number has been gathered, and then automatically feeding such group of sheets to a machine such as a perfcrator.

A further object is to provide such an apparatus wherein, in addition to the functions just referred to, the sheets making up each individual group are jogged laterally and longitudinally to accurately register them before feeding them to the perforator or other work-performing machine.

A further obect is to provide such an apparatus which is readily adjustable within limits for the collection of any desired number of sheets, depending upon the nature and thickness of the individual number of sheets, before feeding them to the work-performing machine.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of this character which is likewise adjustable to take care cf sheets of varying widths and lengths, thus rendering the apparatus universally adaptable for the feeding to a perforator or other work-performing machine sheets of any size which the work-performing machine is capable of operating on.

A further object is to provide such an apparatus wherein, upon the gathering of a predetermined number of sheets, such sheets are released by a suitable gate to start the movement of the sheets through the work-performing machine, and to thereafter promptly close the gate on top of the group of sheets whereby succeeding sheets to form the next group may be fed into the apparatus without awaiting the discharging of the previously formed group, thus rendering the apparatus highly efficient and making it possible to greatly increase the productivity of the perforator or the like as compared with the manual feeding thereof.

Gther objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing Figure l is a plan view of one end of the apparatus shown in conjunction with a conventional perforator.

Figure 2 is a side elevation shown in conjunction with a iorator,

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken through the apparatus substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure but showing the portions of the apparatus omitted in Figure 1, parts being broken away, as indicated between the dot and dash lines,

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of a portion of one end of the apparatus adjacent the perforator, a portion of the control cam means of the latter being diagrammatically represented by broken lines,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the same, the cam mechanism being omitted,

Figure 6 is a section taken line of Figure 1,

of the apparatus, conventional persubstantially on Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view on line 'I-'I of Figure 5, parts being broken away,

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the opposite side of the apparatus from that shown in Figure 4,

Figure 9 is a vertical section on line S--S of Figure 2, and

Figure l is a horizontal sectional View on line Ill-II) of Figure 3, parts being broken away to contract the View both transversely and longitudinally.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral I designates a conventional perforating mechanism as a whole in common use for perfcrating paper sheets and relatively thin sheets of other flexible material. Such perforator comprises a support I2 carrying a horizontal shaft I3 and supporting relatively heavy upper bearings I4 (Figure 1) in Which is journaled an upper shaft I5. The shaft I5 carries a plurality of discs I6 having radially extending perforators I'I of conventional type generally illustrated in Figure l. Inasmuch as the perforator mechanism is conventional, it is believed that the perforators I'I and other parts of the perforator generally need not be shown in specific detail. The lower shaft I3 carries discs i8, fragmentarily and diagrammatically represented in Figure 6, and it is understood that the discs I8 correspond in arrangement to the discs l1 and are provided with perforations for the reception of the perforators II as the two` sets of discs are rotated.

Means (not shown) forming a part of the conventional perforator II) is connected between the shafts I3 and I5 to drive the latter whereby the discs I6 and I8 are driven at the same peripheral speed and rotate in the direction of the arrows in Figure 6.

The perforator I6 includes conventional upper and lower feed rollers 24 and 25, also conventionally driven by means (not shown) so as to rotate Yin the direction of the arrows in Figure 6 at the same peripheral speed as the discs I6 and IS. The rolls 24 and 25 have their line of contact arranged approximately in the horizontal plane of the bed 2l of the perforator I6. It is the common practice for operators to manually gather and register a plurality of sheets and then feed such sheets manually between the rolls 24 and 25 and thus into. the perforator. The parts previously described, as will be apparent, form conventional parts of a widely used type of perforator and form no part per se of the present invention.

. The shaft I5 carries a relatively thick disc 36 (Figures 1 and 4) and in the inner side of this disc is provided a cut-away portion 3l forming a cam drop to control the feeding of the sheets t0 the perforator, in a manner to be described.

Outwardly of the disc 30 is arranged a plate or disc 35, utilized as a sprocket in a manner to be referred to, and against this disc is arranged a plurality of cams 36 protected and retained in position by a plate 31. As will be further described in detail below, the cams 36 control a conventional rotatable vacuum operated sheet feeding device for the present mechanism, each cam 36 being adapted to operate a suitable valve t0 result in the feeding of a sheet to the apparatus. At the point in the operation of the apparatus where a group of sheets is released and fed to the rolls 24 and 25, it is desirable to momentarily stop the feeding of the next sheet to the apparatus so that the previously collected group of sheets can be started on their way to the perforator before the collection of the next group of sheets is started. For this reason, the cams 36 are equidistantly spaced except for a gap occurring in the embodiment illustrated approximately at the point indicated by the numeral 33 in Figure 2.

In the arrangement thus illustrated, ve cams are employed, and in such case each group of sheets collected will comprise five sheets which will be fed to the apparatus at uniform intervals until the gap 36 is reached, at which point the feeding of one sheet will be skipped and the apparatus will function to automtaically feed the collected group of sheets to the perforator. I have found it advisable to arrange the cams 36 an angular distance apart equal tc 360 divided by the number of cams 66 plus one. In other words, Where five cams are employed, such cams will be arranged angularly with respect to each other 366 divided by five plus one, that is, divided by six. Thus, except for the gap 38, the cams 36, where five are employed, will be arranged 60" apart.

Referring generally to the drawings, the nu.- merals 42 and e3 designate a pair of parallel side rails projecting from the inlet side of the perforator. The ends of these side rails remote from the perforator are supported by the frame e5 of a conventional individual sheet feeding mechanism which need not be illustrated in detail. This mechanism is in common use with many paper working machines, for example ruling machines, and it will be understood that it comprises paper feeding strings e6 (Figure 2) ahead of the upper run of which is arranged a rotary vacuum head 41 of conventional type, positively driven (by means not shown) at a peripheral speed equal to the linear speed of the strings d6. When vacuum is connected to the head 4l, a sheet in engagement therewith will be fed toward the left as viewed in Figure 2 and thus will enter the inlet end of the present apparatus, as will be referred to further below.

The vacuum head el has a vacuum pipe 56 connected thereto leading through a control valve 5I and another pipe 52 to a suitable source of vacuum (not shown). The valve 5I is operable by a stem 53 urged to closed or inoperative position by a spring 53. The rod 53 extends to a point in proximity to the cams 35 and is provided with a wheel 56 successively engageable by the cams 36. Thus it will be apparent that the cams 36 successively engage the roller 56 to move the rod 53 toward the right, as viewed in Figure 1, te momentarily energize the vacuum head il and thus initiate movement of another sheet into the present apparatus. The end of the rod 53 adjacent the perforator is supported in a bearing guide 51 referred to further below.

The ends of the side rails (l2 and i3 adjacent Vthe perforatoi` are secured as at 66 (Figure 6) to side bearings 6I and 62 and these bearings rest upon and are supported by a projection Eli carried by the bed of the perforator, each bearing 6I being provided with an ear t3 (Figure 5) ythrough which passes a machine screw or the like 63' for securing the bearings in position.

The projection 66 forms a conventional part of an ordinary perforator of the type referred to and is provided with a T-slot 65. The present invention makes use of such slot for receiving a bar 66' having an upper face 6l sloping downwardly slightly in a direction away from the perforator. VThe bar 66 is maintained inposition by heads 68 of screws connected to the bar 66, the heads 68 being arranged in the groove 65.

Above the bar 66 is arranged a shaft 10 journaled at its ends in the bearings 6| and 62. The shaft 10 carries a gate 1| normally occupying approximately the position shown in Figure 6 just above the surface 61 and just behind the shoulder 12 formed by the forward end of the slot 65 above the low side of the surface 61. In a manner to be described, successive sheets are fed in overlapped relation toward the left in Figure 6 until they contact with the gate 1|, and when the predetermined number of sheets has been gathered, the gate 1| is opened and the sheets are fed toward the feed rolls 24 and 25 for engagement therewith.

At the side of the apparatus adjacent the bearing 62 (Figures l and 8) the shaft 10 is provided with a collar 15 carrying an integral projecting arm 16. One end of a spring 11 is connected to this arm and the other end of this spring is connected to an eye 18 carried by a tubular boss 19 secured to the adjacent bearing 62. The spring 11 is of the tension type and accordingly tends to turn the shaft 10 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 8, and in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4. The boss 10 carries an upwardly extending rubber bumper 60 against which the arm 16 is adapted to strike when it reaches its lowerrnost position after the shaft 10 is released in a manner described below.

Adjacent the end of the shaft 10 opposite the arm 16, that is, the end adjacent the disc 30 (Figure l) the shaft 10 is provided with a collar 85 fixed thereto and this collar has one end of a rod 86 xed thereto, the rod extending downwardly toward the disc 30, as shown in Figure 4.

The end of the rod 66 remote from the shaft 10 is engaged by the periphery of the disc 30 and is normally held thereby in the position shown in Figure 4, in which position the arm 16 occupies the position shown in Figure 3. When the cam drop 3| reaches the adjacent end of the arm 86, the latter is released to drop into the cut-away 3|, the spring 11 thereupon rocking the shaft 10 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figures 4 and 6, to open the gate 1|. This operation takes place with the cam gap 36 in proximity to the roller 56. As previously stated, the valve operating rod 53 is carried by the bearing 51. For convenience, this bearing may be supported by the shaft 10 and for this purpose has a depending portion 00 the lower end of which freely receives the shaft 10, the latter thereby being free to turn and acting for supporting the bearing 51.

The bearings 6| and 62 rotatably support the lower of a pair of cooperating shafts |00 and |0|, the upper shaft |0| being parallel to the shafts 10 and |00 and being arranged between and free of the bearings 6| and 62 for bodily up and down movement in a manner to be described. The shaft |00 carries a sprocket |02 about which a chain |03 passes, and this chain, in turn, passes around a sprocket |04 carried by a shaft |05 forming a conventional part of the perforator. The chain |03 serves to drive the shaft |00 at the linear speed of the rolls 24 and 25, and the shaft |00 is, in fact, a feed roller for the incoming paper coming up against the gate 1|, and the top limit of such roller |00, as shown in Figure 6, is approximately in the horizontal plane of the top of the bed 21.

The shaft |0| is journaled at its ends in bearing arms H0, these arms having portions I stay rod connected surrounding thev shaft 10 and fixed thereto by set screws Upon the rocking of the shaft 10, therefore, the shaft |0| will be raised and lowered.

The shaft 10 carries a disc ||5 adjacent each bearing arm ||0, said disc being cut away as at ||2 to form a shoulder ||3. Each bearing arm I0 carries a laterally projecting lug |08 in which is threaded a screw |1 held in adjusted positions by a jam nut ||6. Each screw ||1 has its lower end contacting with the associated shoulder ||3 and accordingly the shaft |0| is normally held in the upper position shown in Figure 6.

The shaft |0| carries a plurality of rubber or similar rollers |20. These rollers have their bottoms normally spaced above the shaft or roller |00 as shown in Figure 6, and accordingly paper is freed for movement between the roller |00 and the upper rollers |20 into engagement with the gate 1|. When the rod 86 (Figure 4) drops into the cut-out 3|, the shaft 10 rocks in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 4 and 6 under the inuence of the spring 11 (Figure 8) and the gate il opens in the manner previously described. When such operation takes place, the shoulders ||3 move downwardly relative to the screws ||1, thus releasing the bearing arms i0 for downward movement. This operation engages the rubber rollers |20 with the paper extending over the roller |00, thus pinching the paper between the roller |00 and rollers |25 to feed the paper through or past the open gate 1|. When the cut-out 3| (Figure e) passes beyond the adjacent end of the rod 66, at which time the advancing sheets will have been engaged by the rollers 24 and 25, the rod 86 will be moved radially outwardly relative to the disc 30 to restore the gate 1| to normal position. The gate is thus positioned to stop subsequent sheets fed thereagainst while at the same time permitting the previously gathered sheets to be bowed downwardly under the closed gate 1| to be pulled therepast by the rollers 24 and 25.

Means are provided for supporting the sheets as they approach and engage the gate il. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the numeral |25 indicates a between the side frame members 42 and :i3 to brace them relative to each other. A part of the stay rod |25 also shows in Figure 7. A similar stay rod E26 is connected between the side frame members '22 and 43 at a point substantially spaced from the perforator, the stay rod |26 being shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 from which its general location may be readily ascertained. Each of the stay rods |25 and |26 carries a plurality of collars 26 xed thereto by set screws |29. Each collar |25 carries an upward projection 29 having flat tops lying in a common horizontal plane and engageable against the inside of inverted U-shaped elongated paper supporting members |36. These members may be suitably formed of any material, for example, stainless steelk or the like, and they form a relatively ilat bed for the free movement of the paper thereover.

Adjacent one side of the apparatus, and preferably at the side toward the side frame member 43, one of the collars |20 is utilized for supporting a paper guide |35, preferably of angle iron section arranged as shown in Figures '7 and 9 and having its bottom ange arranged in the horizontal plane of the tops of the paper supporting bars |30. The stay rods |25 and f2s being stationary, it will be obvious that all of the paper supporting bars |30 and the guide |35 are likewise stationary. A paper guide |38, similar to the guide |35, is arranged in the postion shown in Figures l, 5 and 9 with its horizontal ange in the horizontal plane of the paper supporting bars |38. The guide I 36 is laterally moved or jogged by means to be described to assist in properly registering the paper sheets with each other.

A longitudinally movable jogger shaft |40 extends transversely in the apparatus adjacent and parallel to the shaft |25, and a similar jogger shaft |4| (Figures l and 3) is arranged adjacent the stay rod |26. Each of these jogger shafts extends through and is slidable in the side frame members 42 and 43 and each is pivotally connected as at |43 to one arm of a bell crank lever |44. Each of these bell crank levers is pivoted as at |45 on a bracket |48 carried by the side frame member 42.

The other arm of each bell crank lever |44 is pivotally connected as at |41 to a rod |48, and it is obvious that reciprocation of this rod rocks the bell crank levers |44 to move the jogger shafts |48 and I4! longitudinally thereof, that is, transversely of the apparatus. Each of the jogger shafts carries a collar |58, which may be identical with the collars |28 previously described, and the paper aligning or jogger guide |35 is secured to the upward projection |5| of each collar |58.

The roller shaft |88 is provided adjacent the sprocket |82 with a collar |55 (Figures 4 and 5) and this collar carries a projecting eccentric pin |55. This pin, in turn, is rotatable in one end of Y a link |58, and the opposite end of this link is pivoted as at |49 to the adjacent end of the rod |48. The shaft |88 is constantly driven by the chain |83, and accordingly the eccentric pin |58 constantly reciprocates the bar |48 to similarly constantly reciprocate the jogger guide |35 through the shafts |48 and |4I. The collars |58, which secure the jogger |36 to the shafts |48 and I4 are adjustable along such shafts according to the width of the sheets to be perforated or otherwise treated, and the adjustment is so made that the distance from the vertical ilange of the jogger |38 to the vertical flange of the guide |85 is equal to the width of the sheets when the jogger 88 is at its innermost position. Thus sheets of the same width supported by the members |39 (Figure 9) and by the guide |85 and jogger |38 will have their side edges arranged in perfect registration as they approach and engage the gate 1|.

At each side of the apparatus is arranged a carriage |85. Each of these carriages, as shown in Figure 9, is shouldered as at |85 to rest upon the adjacent side frame members 42 or 48. Each carriage has an upwardly projecting narrower upper end |81 for a purpose to be described, and adjacent the top of such upper end is arranged a stay rod |88, also serving as a string guide in a manner to be referred to later.

Adjacent their lower ends, the carriages are connected by a second stay rod |18. The stay rods |88 and |18 transversely fix the relative positions of the carriages |85 and render them easily slidable along the side frame members 42 and 43.

The carriages |55 support a rock shaft |12 and this shaft supports a plurality of jogger fingers |13 projecting upwardly between certain adjacent pairs of the paper supporting 'bars |38, as shown in Figure 9. As will be described, the shaft EEZ is rocked to similarly rock the fingers |13, and the carriages |55 are so positioned along the side frame members 42 that the fingers |18 contact the paper sheets, when their forward ends are engaged with the gate ii, thus jogging the sheets longitudinally into perfect registration, the sheets being' of the same length.

At one side of the apparatus, preferably adjacent the side frame member 42, the rock shaft |12 carries a crank arm |15. At the upper end of this crank arm is secured a pin |16 (Figures 2 and 9) and this pin is arranged between a pair of collars |11 carried by the rod |45. This rod, therefore, while operating the lateral jogger |38, simultaneously operates the longitudinally effective jogger fingers |13. Y

Referring to Figure 2, the numeral |89 designates a bearing bracket carried by each of the individual frame members 42 and 43. The bearing brackets |88 rotatably support a string roller |82 (Figure 3) and spaced strings |83 pass around this roll. Extending toward the perforator, the upper runs of the strings |88 extend over the stay rod 88 and thence forwardly and downwardly at a slight angie to a string roller |35 rotatably supported at its ends by the bearings 9| and 82. It will be noted that the string roll is arranged adjacent the shaft |9| (Figure 6). After passing around the roll |85, the lower runs of the strings |83 extend upwardly and rearwardly away from the perforator approximately parallel to the upper runs of the strings. Such lower runs of the strings |83 then pass over a string roll |81 rotatably supported by the carriages |85. The string roll |81 acts as a support for the lower runs of the strings |83, and from the roll |81, the strings extend rearwardly around the roll |82 previously described.

Referring to Figure 3, it will be noted that another set of strings |89 is arranged beneath the strings |53 between the string roll |82 and the carriages |65. As shown in Figure 1, the strings |89 are preferably staggered relative to the strings |83. The strings |89 are employed for conveying successive sheets from the. sheet supply means including the vacuum head 41 to the sheet supporting bed comprising the members |38 (Figures 1 and 9).

Each of the strings |89 has the forward end of its upper run |98 extending between the string roll |81 and a rear substantially larger string roll ESI rotatably supported by shafts |92 carried by the bearing brackets |88. The strings |89 pass around the string roll |81 and then extend rearwardly as at |94 to and around a string roll |95 rotatably supported in a manner to be described. After passing around the roll |95, the strings |89 extend forwardly as at |91 and thence around a string roll |98 rotatably supported by the side frame members 42 and 43. After passing around the roll |98, the strings |89 extend rearwardly and upwardly at a slight angle as at |98 to and around the string roll |9|, thus completing their circuit.

One arm of the bearing bracket supports a stay rod 288 and this rod carries arms 28| each of which is provided at its rear end with a holddown rubber or similar roller 282 arranged above the string roll |9|. The rollers 252 are freely rotatable and serve to maintain the sheets, entering the apparatus, in contact with the upper runs |98 of the strings |89. Accordingly the positive driving of the string roll |9| causes the upper runs |58 of the strings |89 to feed successive sheets forwardly over the string roll |81 from which the sheets drop to the sheet supporting bed comprising the members |30. It will become apparent thatsince the plane of movement Vof the sheets passing over the string roll |81 is above the plane of the tops of the members |38, successive sheets may be fed on to the latter members in overlapping relationship'. In a mansurfaces of the side frame members.

ner to be described, the position of the string roll |81 is adjusted so that the rear end of each successive sheet will drop therefrom very shortly prior to the engagement of the forward edge of such sheet with the gate 1| (Figure 6).

Referring to Figures 3 and 10, it will be noted that the string roller |95 is supported at its ends by stub shafts 2|0 which rest upon and are supported by the respective side rails 42 and 43. As is true of all of the string rolls, the shafts for supporting the string roll |95 carry the inner members of ball bearings the outer elements of which are carried by the string rolls themselves. Such ball bearings form no part per se of the present invention and accordingly need not be illustrated, but mention is made of the preferred use of ball bearings for the string rollers in order that such rollers may freely rotate.

The stub shafts 2 i0 (Figure 10) extend through blocks 2| l which extend below the upper limits of the side frame members 42 and 43 as shown in Figure 3 and are arranged adjacent the inner Accordingly the blocks 2|| prevent axial movement of the string roller |95 while the stub shafts 2|0 support such string roller by resting on the side frame members 42 and 43.

Auxiliary side frame members 2|5 have their inner ends arranged against inner faces of the respective blocks 2|| as shown in Figures 3 and 10, above the top of the string roller |95. Such frame members 2|5 are xed to the respective blocks 2|| by machine screws 2|6 or any other suitable fastening means. The forward ends of the frame members 2|5 contact with the inner faces of the respective carriages |65 and are fixed thereto as at 2|1. Accordingly it will be apparent that the blocks 2||, frame members 2|5 and carriages |65 are fixed together as a unit, and such unit is adjustable longitudinally of the sideframe members as described below.

Each block 2| is connected as at 220 to the ends of a chain 22|. These chains pass around rear sprockets 222 rotatable on shafts 223 fixed to the side frame members 42 and 43. The chains 22| pass around forward sprockets 225 xed to a rotatable shaft 226 which extends transversely across the apparatus and is journaled in the side frame members 42'and 43. Outwardly of the side frame member 42, the shaft 226 is provided withl a hand wheel 221 whereby the sprockets 225 can be rotated to operate the chains 22| and thus move the blocks 2|| longitudinally of the apparatus, such movement be ing transmitted through the frame members 2|5 to the carriages |65.

The means employed for supplying successive sheets to the inlet end of the apparatus, that is, from the right hand end as viewed in Figures 2 and 3 and over the string roll 9|, forms no part of the present invention and need not be illustrated in detail. Such mechanism may be of the type in common use for supplying successive sheets from the top of a stack by operation of a conventional vacuum head 41, the stack of papers being supported on suitable means having an automatic mechanism associated therewith for feeding the stack upwardly toward the vacuum head 41 as the sheets are fed from the top of the stack. Such mechanism, moreover, may employ the usual power driving means, and any suitable manual power transmission means may be connected therefrom to the shaft |92 (Figure 2) to operate it. This shaft is preferably provided with a sprocket 230 around which passes a cha-in 23|, and this chain passes around a sprocket 242 formed on the periphery of the disc 35 of the perforator. While this particular drive means for the perforator is not essential to the present invention, its use is preferred in order that the driving of all of the parts forming the present combination of elements may be properly synchronized.

Operation The paper to be perforated is stacked beneath the vacuum head 41 and supported by the usual mechanism (not shown) for feeding the stack upwardly as successive sheets are fed from the stack by the vacuum head 41. With the device in operation, the perforator will be driven by the chain 23| which, in turn, is driven by the pulley 230. The shaft |92 derives its power in any suitable manner (not shown) preferably from the power means which drives the feed device for the paper supply mechanism associated with the vacuum head 41.

As each successive cam 36 engages the roller 52E, the valve 5| will be opened to connect the vacuum head 41 to the source of vacuum. The head 41, constantly rotating, will engage the top sheet of the pack and feed it over the strings 46 and into the present apparatus between the rollers 202 (Figure 3) and string roll 9| The sheet will be held down by the lower runs of the strings |83 while being supported and conveyed by the upper runs |90 of the strings |89.

As the successive sheets approach the string roll |81, their top surfaces will come into engagement with the bottom runs of the strings |83 which pass over the string roll |81. The two sets of strings between which the sheets pass are driven at the same linear speed and the engagement of each sheet between these sets of strings causes the sheet to be positively moved forwardly or to the left as viewed in Figures 2 and 3. After passing over the string roll |81, the sheet will be unsupported and is free to drop down over the supporting bars |30. Obviously, the leading edge of the paper will travel some distance beyond the string roll |81 before dropping into contact with the supporting bars |30, or into contact with the next preceding sheet which may have been fed into collecting position on the bars |30. Therefore, the leading edges of successive sheets wlil pass beyond the following edge of any prceeding sheet and accordingly is free to slide thereover as it is pushed forwardly by the conveying strings |83 and |89.

In this connection it is pointed out that the carriages are adjusted longitudinally along the side rails 42 and 43 to a position in which the jogger fingers |13 (Figure 3), when in their forward positions, will engage the following edges of the sheets whiie the leading edges are in contact with the gate 1| (Figure 6). Accordingly it will be apparent that as each cam 36 operates the vacuum valve 5|, another sheet will be fed to the apparatus and successive sheets will be superimposed on the collecting bed formed by the bars |30.

Continuously during the operation of the apparatus, the eccentric pin |56 (Figure 4) will be rotated by the shaft |00, this shaft being driven through the chain |03 and sprocket |02. The throw of the eccentric pin |56 is obviously relatively slight, and accordingly it operates through the link |53 to constantly reciprocate the rod |42 through a short travel. The bar |48 constantly rocks the two bell crank levers |44 (Figure l) and these levers, in turn, therefore constantly reciprocate the transverse jogger shafts |11@ and lili. Both of these shafts are connected tc the transverse jogger rail |35 and accordingly as successive sheets approach the gate il, the sheets are jogged laterally to register them transversely. As previously stated, the distance between the jogger rail |35 and the guide rail |35 (Figure 9), when the jogger 35 is at its innermost limit of movement is adjusted so that the vertical flanges of the members i3d and |35 will just contact the longitudinal edges of the paper.

The jogger |35 is adjustable along the shafts It and lili by loosening the set screws carried by the associated supporting collars |50. If the sheets are of greater width than that for which the apparatus is adjusted, as shown in Figure 9, the jogger its will be adjusted outwardly toward the rail 2 and one or more additional supporting bars i3d will be placed in position and supported by suitable collars |28. 1f the sheets are narrower, one or more of the supporting bars E39 will be removed.

The longitudinal reciprocation of the bar |48 transmits movement through the collars lll (Figures l and 9) to the crank arm V55 to rock the shaft l2 and thus transmit similar movement to the longitudinal jogger fingers H3. As previously stated, the carriages E55 are adjusted along the rails t2 so that the jogger fingers H3 will contact with the following edges of the sheets when the lingers lf2 are at their limits of movement toward the left, as viewed in Figure 3, with the leading edges of the sheets in engagement with the gate ll. The successive sheets are thus jogged longitudinally by the lingers |73 while being jogged laterally by the rail |35, and accordingly the collected sheets are placed in perfect registration with each other.

The number of sheets collected in the manner described depends upon the nature and thickness of the sheets. As previously stated, the conventional rotary perforator with which the present apparatus is particularly intended to be used perforates sheets, and particularly paper sheets, far more cleanly if a plurality of sheets are fed through the perforator at each operation thereof. The number of sheets thus gathered is accordingly determined in accordance with the nature and thickness of the sheets and the proper number of cams 3d is arranged in position.

In the present instance, five of the cams 36 have been illustrated, and accordingly ve sheets will be gathered for each perforating operation. In such case, the cams will be arranged 60 apart, thus leaving a gap 3S (Figure 2) of 120. After the last cam 36 for a given rotation of the perforating discs'has taken place, ve sheets will have been gathered ready for the perforating operation, and at this point, the gap 33 approaches the roller 5t and one operation of the rod 53 will be skipped and no sheet will be fed to the apparatus by the vacuum head d?.

At this point, the cutaway 3| (Figure 4) will reach the adjacent end cf the rod S5 and such end of this rod will be free to move upwardly under the influence of the spring il (Figure 8) exerting a turning force on the arm 1B. Thus the shaft 'l will be rocked together with the gate li to free the collected sheets for movement over the bed 2 of the perforator.

The operation referred to rocks the shaft 'l0 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 8 and in a clockwise direction as viewed in `Figure 6. The rocking of the shaft 'i0 (Figure 6) swings the gate 1| in a countcrclockwise direction and at the same time rocks the two discs ||5 in the same direction and the shoulders ||3 will move downwardly away from the screws ||6. This operation permits the lowering of the free ends of the bearing arms to similarly lower the rubber or similar rollers |20. The screws ||6 follow the shoulders ||3 in their downward movements until the rollers |20 contact with the sheets resting on the roller shaft |00. When this point in the operation is reached, the constantly rotating roller shaft |00, by virtue of the weight of the rollers |20 and associated parts on the pack of sheets, will cause the sheets to start to move toward the left as viewed in Figure 6. At this point, the gate 'il will have moved toward the left free of the leading edges of the sheets vand accordingly the latter may move past the gate.

While the rollers I 2S remain in contact with the uppermost gathered sheet, the gate 1| continues to turn until the arm 15 (Figure 8) contacts with the rubber bumper B0 to limit further turning movement of the shaft 10. At such point, the gate 1| will be opened sufcicntly to permit the free passage of the sheets toward the perforator. The sheets continue to advance under the propelling force exerted by the roller shaft |00 and rollers |28 until the sheets are firmly engaged by the perforator feed rollers 24 and 25 and these rollers thereafter positively pull the sheets from the collecting mechanism to feed them to and between the perforator discs ||5 and I8.

Promptly upon the positive engagement of the sheets between the rollers 24 and 25, the free end of the rod (Figure 4) passes relatively beyond the `other end of the cutaway 3|, whereupon the rod 86 will be rocked back to its normal position and the shaft 'l0 will be rotated against the tension of the spring TI to return the gate '1| to its normal closed position.

Particular attentionV is invited to the fact that the bottom edge of the gate 1|, when in the normal position shown in Figure 6, lies approximately in, and definitely not above, the horizontal plane of the top of the bed 21 and block 64 (Figure 6). Thus successive sheets fed on to the collecting bed will have their forward edges brought definitely into engagement with the gate 1| to arrest forward movement of the sheets when the gate is closed and the sheets are being fed thereto. However, the inclined surface 6'1 provides a space between such surface and the lower edge of the gate 'H when the latter is in closed position. Thus the gate is permitted to close as soon as a collection of sheets have had their forward edges engaged by the rollers 24 and 25, and the sheets will be positively pulled toward the perforator while passing beneath the gate 1|. The sheets will be merely bowed downwardly as they pass beneath this gate.

The feature of the apparatus just described is highly important in producing an eiiicient and rapid feeding of sheets to the perforator. Just as soon as the gate 1| has closed, the rst following sequence of operations of the vacuum valve 5| takes place by engagement of the first cam `36 with the roller 56. The gap provided at the point 38 (Figure 2) is for the purpose of initiating the feeding of a collection of sheets to the perforator. The supplying of sheets to the collecting mechanism is resumed in the manner described just as soon as the advancing edges of the sheets are engaged by the rollers 24 and 25 and at such point, the following edges of the sheets will have advanced only a short distance beyond the vertical plane of the string roll 181 (Figure 3). Since the sheets are fed to the collecting bed at a point substantially above the horizontal plane of the latter, the rst sheet of the next succeeding collection will be fed forwardly over and will drop down upon the top sheet of the previous collection now being pulled forwardly by the feed rolls 24 and 25.

Accordingly it will be apparent that as soon as movement of a collection of sheets toward the perforator has been started, the collection of the next group of sheets is initiated without awaiting the clearing of the sheets moving toward the perforator. Accordingly the apparatus functions to feed a collection of `sheets to the perforator for each successive complete rotation of the perforator discs 16 and i8. Thus the apparatus has the advantage of being fully automatic in operation and of providing a rapid production rate. As a matter of fact, the apparatus has been found in practice to have a rate of production approximately four times that of the hand feeding of perforators, as now generally practiced in the industry.

The adjustment of the transverse and longitudinal jogging means for sheets of different sizes has been previously described, at least in a general way, as to the positioning of the jogger fingers 113. These fingers are movable with the carriages |65, and these carriages are moved along the side rails 42 and 43 by operating the hand wheel 221. Rotation of this hand wheel in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, advances the carriages 155, frame members 215, blocks 21| and string roller 195 toward the left, and this is the adjustment which will take place when shorter sheets are to be fed through the apparatus. It will be apparent that the string rollers |81 and |95, under such conditions, will be bodily moved as a unit and the elongation of the upper runs |90 of the strings |89 will be exactly compensated for by the forward movement of the string roll 195. The reverse operation takes place where longer sheets are to be fed through the apparatus, as will be apparent, it merely being necessary to rotate the hand wheel 221 in a clockwise direction.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present apparatus is fully automatic for collecting sheets fed singly thereto until a predetermined number of sheets has been collected., and to then promptly release such collection of sheets and feed them to the perforator. lt also will be apparent that promptly upon the starting of one group of sheets toward the pcrforator, the apparatus automatically initiates the collection of the next succeeding group of sheets. The apparatus also functions to jog the sheets automatically to perfectly align them as they are collected, and accordingly all of the normally hand-performed functions in an apparatus of this character are rapidly, automatically and accurately performed. and the elimination of hand gathering and feeding renders the apparatus highly economical in operation.

I claim:

l. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a sheet collecting bed, a gate at one end of said bed, means for supplying successive sheets to said bed from the opposite end thereof said gate normally occupying an operative position in the path of travel of the advancing edges of such sheets to arrest the successive sheets in superimposed relation, a constantly driven roller arranged beneath the sheets on said bed, a roller arranged above said first named roller and normally out of contact with the sheets on said bed, and means for substantially simultaneously moving said gate to open position above the level of the sheets on said bed and for dropping said second named roller into contact with the sheets whereby said first named roller becomes effective for feeding the sheets from said bed beneath said gate, said rollers being the sole means for moving the sheets from said bed.

2. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a horizontal sheet collecting bed, means for supplying successive sheets to said bed from one end thereof, said sheet supplying means being arranged substantially above the level of said bed whereby each sheet fed to the latter will pass over the top of the preceding sheet, a gate at the opposite end of said bed for arresting movement of the successive sheets in a position with their leading edges substantially in vertical alignment, a roller arranged beneath the plane of said bed and engageable with the lowerrnost sheet thereon, said roller extending transversely of the direction of the movement of the sheets supplied to said bed and being constantly driven, a pivoted arm above said bed, a roller carried by said arm and biased for downward movement into engagement with the uppermost sheet on said bed, mechanical means connecting said gate to said arm to normally hold said last named roller out of engagement with the sheets, and means operative upon the gathering of a predetermined number of sheets on said bed for opening said gate and for releasing said arm for movement of said last named roller into engageinent with the uppermost sheet to effect frictional engagement of the lowermost sheet with said rst named roller whereby the latter moves the collected sheets from said bed past said gate, said rollers being the sole means for moving the sheets from said bed.

3. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a horizontal bed, means for supplying successive sheets to said bed from one end thereof, a normally closed gate at the other end of said bed for arresting movement of the sheets with the leading edges thereof substantially in vertical alignment, said gate, when closed, having its lower edge projecting downwardly at least past the lowermost sheet on said bed, a surface beneath said gate and spaced therefrom when said gate is in closed position, means operative after a predetermined number of sheets have been gathered on said bed for rendering said sheet Supplying means inoperative and for opening said gate, sheet discharging means controlled by said gate and rendered operative upon the movement thereof to open position for discharging the sheets'from said bed beneath said gate, means engageable with the sheets after the leading edges thereof have advanced a predetermined distance beyond said gate for pulling the sheets from said bed, means operative after the sheets have been engaged by said last named means for moving said gate to closed position, the space between said gate and said surface being sufficient for the movement of such sheets beneath said gate after the latter has closed, and means for restoring the operativeness of said sheet supplying means when said gate returns to closed position whereby collection of the next succeeding group of sheets may be started before the preceding group of sheets has been removed from said bed.

4. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a horizontal bed, means for supplying successive sheets to said bed from one end thereof and in superimposed relationship thereon, a rock shaft extending over the opposite end of said bed, a depending gate carried by said shaft and arranged in the path of travel of the sheets for arresting movement of the sheets with the leading edges thereof substantially in vertical alignment, and means operative after a predetermined number of sheets have been gathered on said bed for rocking said shaft to open said gate and release the sheets for movement from said bed beneath said gate, said bed having a portion just in advance of said gate slightly higher than the portion beneath said gate, said latter portion of said bed being spaced below said gate when the latter is in operative position whereby, upon return movement of said gate to operative position, the sheets leaving said bed are free to pass beneath said gate.

5. A Sheet feeding apparatus comprising a horizont-al bed, means for supplying successive sheets to said bed from one end thereof in superimposed relationship, a rock shaft extending over the opposite end of said bed, a gate carried by saidvshaft and normally depending therefrom in an operative position engageable with the leading edges of successive sheets to arrest movement of the sheets, means biasing said shaft for turning movement to tend to open said gate, and means operative after a predetermined number of sheets have gathered on said bed for releasing said biasing means to rock said shaft to open said gate and release the sheets for movement from said bed beneath said gate, said bed having a portion just in advance of said gate slightly higher than the portion beneath said gate, said latter portion of said bed being spaced below said gate when the latter is in operative position whereby, upon return movement of said gate to operative position, the sheets leaving said bed are free to pass beneath said gate.

6. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a horizontal bed, means for supplying successive sheets to said bed from one end thereof in superimposed relationship, a rock shaft extending over the opposite end of said bed, a gate carried by said shaft and normallydepending therefrom in an operative position engageable with the leading edges of successive sheets to arrest movement of the sheets, means biasing said. shaft for turning movement to tend to open said gate, an arm carried by said shaft, and a cam device having a portion normally engaging said arm to hold said gate in normal position, said cam devicehaving a portion movable into cooperative relationship with said arm to release the latter and thus release said rock shaft whereby said biasing means turns said shaft to open said gate and release the sheets for movement from said bed beneath said gate, said bed having a portion just in advance of said gate slightly higher than the portion beneath said gate, said latter portion of said bed being spaced below said gate when the latter is in operative position whereby, upon return movement of said gate to operative position, the sheets leaving said bed are free to pass beneath said gate.

7. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a horizontal bed, means for supplying successive sheets to said bed from one end thereof in superimposed relationship, a rock shaft extending over the opposite end of said bed, a gate carried by said shaft and normallydepending therefrom in an operative position engageable with the leading-edges of successive sheets `to arrest movement of the sheets, means biasing said shaft for turning movement to tend to open said gate, an arm carried by said shaft, a rotary member having a concentric portion engageable with said arm to hold said shaft in a position with said gate in said normal position throughout the greater portion of each rotation of said rotary member, said rotary member having a cut-out portion in which said arm drops after a predetermined number of sheets have gathered on said bed for releasing said shaft for movement by said biasing means to open said gate whereby said sheets are movable from said bed beneath said gate, said bed having a portieri just in advance of said gate slightlyT higher than the portion beneath said gate, said latter portion of said bed being spaced below said gate when the latter is in operative position whereby, upon return movement of said gate to operative position, the sheets leaving said bed are free to pass beneath said gate.

8. A sheet-l feeding apparatus comprising a horizontal bed, means for supplying successive sheets to said bed from one end thereof in superimposed relationship, a rock shaft extending over the opposite end of said bed, a gate carried by said rock shaft and normally depending therefrom to an operative position engageable with the leading edges of said sheets to arrest movement of the sheets with the leading edges thereof in vertical alignment, means biasing said gate to open position, an arm carried by said rock shaft, a cam device engaging said arm to hold said gate in said normal position and having a portion movable into cooperative relationship with said arm to release it whereby said biasing means swings said gate away from the leading edges of the sheets to open position, and means operative upon the opening of said gate for engaging the sheets on said bed and moving them therefrom beneath said gate, said bed having va portion. just in advance of said gate slightly higher than the portion beneath said gate, said latter portion of said bed being spaced below said gate when the latter is in operative position whereby, upon return movement of said gate to operative position, the sheeis leaving said bed are free to pass beneath said gate.

9. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 8 wherein the means for feeding the sheets from said bed comprises a pair of pinch rolls one of which normally engages the lowermost sheet on said bed and the other of which is normally arranged above the uppermost sheet on said bed, means for constantly driving said lower roller, and means operative upon the opening of said gate for releasing said upper roller for downward movement into engagement with the uppermost sheet on said bed.

10. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a horizontal bed, sheet supplying means arranged adjacent one end of said bed and projecting therefrom above the horiozntal plane thereof for feeding successive sheets to said bed, a rocking member projecting horizontally across the opposite end of said bed, a gate carried by said rocking member and normally depending therefrom in an operative position for engaging leading edges of the successive sheets for arresting their movement with such leading edges in vertical alignment, said gate having a space therebeneath when in closed position, means operative after predetermined number of sheets have gathered on said bed for opening said gate, sheet movingr means engagea-ble with sheets on said bed when said gate is opened for effecting movement of the aessos i sheets beneath said gate, means engageable with the sheets to continue their movement from said bed after the leading edges of the sheets have passed beyond said gate, means operative after the sheets have been engaged by the last named sheet moving means for returning said gate to closed position, and means operative upon the closing of said gate for releasing said first named sheet moving means from operative engagement with the sheets on said bed.

11. Apparatus constructed in accordance with claim 10 provided with means for arresting the supplying of sheets to said bed when said gate is opened and for resuming the supplying of successive sheets upon the closing of said gate whereby successive sheets for the next group will be fed to said bed before the preceding group has been removed therefrom.

12. Apparatus Iconstructed in accordance with claim 10 wherein said sheet supplying means comprises a vacuum feeding head, and a plurality of cams successively operative for rendering said vacuum head operative to supply said successive sheets, said cams having a gap therein synchronized with the opening of said gate whereby the supplying of successive sheets will be momentarily arrested until movement of each group of sheets from said bed has been initiated and said gate has returned to closed position.

13. In combination with a rotary sheet perforator having rotary coa-cting perforating discs and a pair of sheet feeding pinch rolls arranged at the inlet side of said discs for feeding paper into engagement therewith, a sheet collecting bed, means operative in predetermined synchronism with the rotation of said discs for supplying successive sheets to said bed in superimposed relationship from the end of said bed remote from said perforator, a gate arranged over said bed at the end thereof adjacent said perforator, said gate having a normal closed position in the path of travel of the sheets to arrest movement thereof with their leading edges in vertical alignment, and means operative once during each rotation of said discs for opening said gate for the release of sheets from said bed, and means operative to move the released sheets from the bed into engagement with said pinch rolls which feeds the sheets to the perforating discs.

14. In combination with a rotary sheet perforator having rotary coacting perforating discs and a pair of sheet feeding pinch rolls arranged at the inlet side of said discs for feeding paper into engagement therewith, a sheet collecting bed, means operative in predetermined synchronism with the rotation of said discs for supplying successive sheets to said bed in superimposed relationship from the end of said bed remote from said perforator, a gate arranged over said bed at the end thereof adjacent said perforator, said gate having a normal closed position in the path of travel of the sheets to arrest movement thereof with their leading edges in vertical alignment, and means operative once during each rotation of said discs for opening said gate, and means operative upon the opening of said gate for initiating movement of the sheets from said bed past the said gate and into engagement with said pinch rolls which feeds the sheets to the perforating discs.

15. In combination with a rotary sheet perforator having rotary coacting perforating discs and a pair of sheet feeding pinch rolls arranged at the inlet side of said discs for feeding paper ,into engagement therewith7 a sheet collecting bed,

means operative in predetermined synchronism with the rotation of said discs for supplying successive sheets to said bed in superimposed relationship from the end of said bed remote from said perforator, a gate arranged over said bed at the end thereof adjacent said perforator, said gate having a normal closed position in the path of travel of the sheets to arrest movement thereof with their leading edges in vertical alignment, and means operative once during each rotation of said discs for opening said gate, a pair of sheetmoving rolls within the area of said bed, one below said bed in contact with the lowermost sheet thereon and the other above said bed and normally supported by said gate out of engagement with the uppermost sheet on said bed, the lower of said rolls being constantly driven and the upper of said rolls being releasable by movement of said gate to open position for downward movement into engagement with the uppermost sheet on said bed, said gate opening means being operative for maintaining the gate in open position only until the leading edges of the collected sheets have been engaged by said pinch rolls which feeds the sheets to the perforating discs.

16. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a sheet collecting bed, means for supplying successive sheets to said bed in superimposed relationship from one end thereof, a gate adjacent the opposite end of said bed and normally occupying a position in the path of travel of the sheets to engage the leading edges of the successive sheets to arrest movement of the sheets, said bed being cut away beneath said gate to provide a space at least coextensive in length to the leading edges of the sheets, means for moving said gate to an inoperative position above the level of the sheets, means operative when said gate moves into inoperative position for advancing the sheets past said gate, means beyond said gate engageable with the sheets after they pass said gate, and means for returning said gate to normal position upon engagement of said last-named means with the sheets, the space beneath said gate when the latter is in operative position being at least equal in thickness to the collected sheets for the passage or" the latter through said space while said gate is in operative position.

17. In combination with a sheet Working apparatus having a device for performing work on thin flexible sheets, and having sheet feeding pinch rolls adjacent the inlet side of the apparatus for engaging sheets fed thereto and moving such sheets into engagement with said device, a sheet collecting bed at the inlet side of said sheet working apparatus, means for feeding successive sheets to said bed in superimposed relationship from the end of said bed remote from said sheet working apparatus, a gate arranged over said bed adjacent the opposite end thereof, said gate being mounted to swing on a horizontal axis spaced above said bed and above the lower edge of said gate for swinging movement inwardly and upwardly toward the sheet working apparatus, said gate normally occupying a position engageable with the leading edges of the successive sheets to arrest movement of the sheets with such leading edges in vertical alignment, and means operative after a plurality of sheets 0f a predetermined number have gathered on said bed for opening said gate and moving the collected sheets pals; said gate into engagement with said pinch ro 18. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a co1- lectingbed,i a gate at one end of said bed, means for conveying sheets to said bed fromA the other end thereof, means at the end of said conveying means remote from said bed for supplying sheets toV said conveying means in overlapping relationship, said gate normally depending toward said bed and being spaced therefrom for the passage of sheets beneath said gate, said bed just in advance of said gate having a portion at least as high as the bottom of said gate whereby incoming sheets will have their leading edges at such height as to be engaged by said gate. to have their movement arrested thereby, means for opening saidgate. after a plurality of sheets to a predetermined number have collected at said gate, means. operative upon operation of said lastnamed means for advancing the collected sheets. past said gate, and means for closing said gate before the nextA successive sheet from said conveying means reaches said gate.

1-9. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a collecting bed, agate at one. end of said bed, means for conveying sheets to. said bed from the other end thereof, means at the end. of' said conveying means remote from said bed for supplying sheets to said conveying means. in overlapping relationship, said gate normally depending toward said bed" and being spaced therefrom for the passage of." sheets beneath said gate, said bed just in ad- Vance ofr said gate having a portion at least as high as the bottom of said gate whereby incoming sheets will have their leading edges at such height as tobe. engaged by said gate to have their movement. arrested thereby, means for opening said gate after a plurality of sheets to a predetermined number have collected atV said gate, meansV operative upon operation of said lastnamed means for advancing the collected sheets pastv said gate, means beyond said gate for en gaging the advancing edges of sheets passing beneath said gate for pulling theV collected sheets therebetween, and means for closing said gate before the next successive sheet from said conveying means reaches said gate.

20. A sheet feeding apparatus comprisingv a sheet collecting bed, a stop member at one end of said bed, mea-ns for feeding successive sheets over said bed toward said stop member, said stop member being normally arranged in an operative positionto engage theleadingedges of said sheets and2 arrest movement. ofV the sheets, normallyv in` operative means for moving collected sheets from saidf bed, means operative after a predetermined numberof: sheetshavebeen@ collected on said bed for moving said stopr mem-ber to an inoperativev position out of engagement with the sheets, means operative upon the moving of said stop member to inoperative-position. for rendering said sheet mov-V ing means operative for engaging thev sheets andvfeeding them from said bed, and means operative to return said stopY member to operative position tocontaot the leading edge of a succeeding sheet whilesaid collected sheets arev being fed from said bed and before the trailing edges thereof have passed-by said stopmember.

2-1".n A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a sheet' collecting bed, a stop member at one end'of saidy bed, means for feeding successive sheets over said bed toward said stop member, said stop member being normally arranged in an operative position tocontact theleading edges of said sheets and; arrestmovement' of the sheets, normally inoperative pinch rolls arranged respectively above and below the sheets on said bed, means operative. after a predetermined? number of sheets have been gathered on said bed for moving; said stop member to` an inoperativev position out. of engagement with said sheets, and means operative: in response to movement of said stop member to inoperative position for eifecting operative omr gagement of said pinch rolls with. the collected sheets for moving them from said end of said bed.

22. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a sheet collecting bed, a gate at one end ofsaidbed, means for supplying successive sheets' to said bed from the opposite end thereof, said gate normally occupying an operative position in. the path. of travel of the advancing edges of such sheets to arrest the successive sheets in superimposed re-v lation, means operative after a predetermined number of sheets have been collected on said bed for moving said gate to a. position above: the level of the collected sheets for the discharge of the sheets from said bed beneath said gate, meansfope erative to feed the collected sheets from. the. bed' when said gate is thus moved, and means operative to return said gate to operative position to contact the leading edge of a succeeding sheet. while said collected sheets are being fed from. said bed and before the trailing edges thereof have passed by said gate.

23. A sheet feeding apparatusv comprising. a sheet collecting bed, a gate atr one end of said bed, meansfor supplyingv successive sheets to said bed from the opposite end thereof, said gate nor-'- mally occupying an operative position. in the path of travel of the advancing edges of such sheets to arrest the successive sheets. in superimposed relatiornmeans providing a space. beneath said gate when inclosed position, means supporting said sheets so that the leading edges thereof contact said gate when in closed position, normally inoperative sheet discharging means adjacent said bed, and means for substantially simu1- taneously moving said gate to open position above the level of said sheets and for rendering said sheet discharging means operative for moving theV sheets from said bed beneath said gate.

24. A sheet feeding apparatus comprising a sheet collecting bed, means for supplying successive sheets to said bed from one end thereof, a gate. at the opposite end of said bed for arresting movement of the successive sheets in a position with their leading edges substantially in vertical alignment, a roller arranged beneath the plane*` of said bed and engageable with the lowermost sheet thereon, said roller extending transversely of the direction of the movement of the sheets. supplied to said bed, means for driving said roller, a pivoted arm above said bed, a roller carried by said arm and biased for downward movement into engagement with the uppermost sheet onsaid bed, mechanical means connecting said gate to said arm to normally hold said last named rollerV out of engagement with the sheets, and means operative upon the gathering of a predetermined number of sheets on said bed to open said gate and to release said arm for movement of said last named roller into engagement with the outermost sheet to effect friotional engagement of the lowermost sheet with said first named roller whereby the latter moves the collected sheets from said bed past said gate.

25. In combination with a rotary sheet perforator having rotary coacting perforating discs and a pair of sheet feeding pinch rolls arranged at the inlet side of said discs. for feeding paper into engagement therewith, a sheet collecting bed, means operative in predetermined synchronism With'- 21 the rotation of said discs for supplying successive sheets to said bed in superimposed relationship from the end of said bed remote from said perforator, said means comprising a plurality of spaced cams driven with said discs, a gate arranged over said bed at the end thereof adjacent said perforator, said gate having a normal closed position in the path of travel of the sheets to arrest movement thereof with their leading edges in vertical alignment, means operative once during each rotation of said discs for opening said gate for the release of sheets from said bed, and means operative to move the sheets from said bed into engagement with said pin-ch rolls which feed the sheets to the perforating disc, a pair of said cams being substantially spaced to provide a gap therebetween synchronized with the opening of said gate whereby the supplying of successive sheets is interrupted momentarily in synchronism with the opening of said gate.

ROBERT J. THOMPSON.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Harris Apr. 2, 1901 Carlton Apr. 20, 1907 Rosback May 31, 1910 Westerbeck June 11, 1912 Parry Oct. 9, 1917 Renz Feb. 1, 1921 Fine June 26, 1923 Broadmeyer Apr. 19, 1927 Flanigan Sept. l2, 1944 Davidson May 1, 1945 Powers Jan. 7, 1947 Harred July 15, 1947 

